The yatra has been a mainstay of spiritual tourism, bringing thousands of people each year to Mount Kailash and Lake Mansarovar
The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is scheduled to resume in June after a five-year break caused by geopolitical unrest and pandemic-related disruptions, reviving pilgrims’ and local economies’ hopes. Ten groups of 50 pilgrims each will be allowed to go on the pilgrimage via Sikkim’s Nathula Pass route, a vital conduit for spiritual seekers. This will be a significant milestone for Himalayan tourism and India-China cultural diplomacy.
Ever since it began over two decades ago, the yatra has been a mainstay of spiritual tourism, bringing thousands of people each year to Mount Kailash and Lake Mansarovar, which are revered by Buddhists, Jains and Hindus as the residence of Lord Shiva and a gateway to enlightenment.
However, in 2020, the yatra was suspended following clashes between Indian and Chinese forces on the border and Kailash Mansarovar has remained off limits to Indian pilgrims since then.
However, with the thawing of ties between the two Asian giants, the yatra is all set to resume this year.
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The Nathula Pass route, which was opened in 2015, combined spiritual rigour with stunning views of the Eastern Himalayas to provide a beautiful but challenging 21-day pilgrimage through Gangtok, Sherathang and into Tibet.
The reopening is expected to boost Sikkim’s economy, especially in the areas of local trade and hospitality. For communities that depend on pilgrimage tourism, the Nathula route is a lifeline, so its resuscitation is about more than just faith. The trip, which involves climbing to altitudes of over 4,100 m and acclimatising to oxygen-thin air, promises visitors an unparalleled combination of physical challenge and spiritual immersion.
India’s adventure tourism playbook is being rewritten by Sikkim’s wild trails, which are tucked away in the Eastern Himalayas and meet snow-capped giants and mist-clad valleys. To meet a new generation of adventurers, organisers are negotiating unexplored routes as trekkers switch from pilgrimage sites to high-altitude passes.
“The Sikkim route is uncharted territory for many organisers, including us, but its allure lies in the constant Himalayan panorama, from West Bengal’s tea gardens to Tibet’s stark plateaus. Today’s pilgrims are not just devotees; they are adventurers seeking to conquer high-altitude treks and abrupt weather shifts. We are even seeing families with teens, like a 17-year-old eager to test his limits,” Khyati Mehta, Founder & Director, Dream 2 Holiday, a Mumbai-based travel company, tells Media India Group.
Now that families are taking on treks like the 4,600 m Goechala Trek, Sikkim’s untamed frontiers are being used as teaching grounds for resiliency, camaraderie and the unadulterated splendour of the Himalayas.
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Mountaineering expert Mehta emphasises a no-compromise approach as seasoned hikers and medical professionals stress the importance of mental and physical preparedness for high-altitude challenges.
“Preparation is non-negotiable, with strength training, daily walking and hydration, at least 1.5 litres daily pre-trip, then hourly intake during the yatra. Water is oxygen at those heights. The answer to opting for helicopters is no as slow acclimatisation is key to enjoying the journey,” Mehta adds.
Her recommendations are consistent with the training regimens described by Himalayan trekking guides, who emphasise altitude-specific conditioning, gradual endurance-building and rigorous hydration techniques to reduce risks and increase resilience on routes such as Everest Base Camp.
Pilgrims travelling the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra via Sikkim’s Nathula Pass traverse a journey that requires both physical stamina and introspection amid the Himalayan winds that carry centuries of devotion.
“This is not just a checkbox on my bucket list. After losing my father during the pandemic, I vowed to honour his dream to circumambulate Kailash. The Sikkim route’s raw beauty, where prayer flags flutter against Everest’s shadow, feels like the right path. Morning hikes with a weighted backpack and yoga to boost lung capacity were part of my training. I have read about altitude sickness, but surrendering to the mountain’s rhythm is part of the lesson,” Chandra Prakash Vyas, a 52-year-old businessman based in Rajasthan, tells Media India Group.
Vyas’s determination reflects the mountain’s unwavering presence as he gets ready for the perilous Dolma La Pass at 5,650 m, where oxygen thins and pilgrims chant ‘om mani padme hum’.
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The reopening of the Nathula route corresponds with a general increase in pilgrimages to the Himalayas. Adventurers and spiritual pilgrims alike have contributed to the nearby Adi Kailash and Om Parvat Yatra’s 66 pc increase in visitors in 2024. In order to handle the influx, Sikkim’s hospitality industry is already preparing, with homestays and tour companies increasing their offerings.
The journey is still difficult for pilgrims, including the final trek around Mount Kailash, acclimatisation stops at Sherathang at 4,115 m and medical examinations in Delhi.
“The mountains test you, but they also reward. Every step closer to Kailash feels like a dialogue with the divine,” notes Mehta.
As 2025 draws near, the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is a symbol of faith, diplomacy, and the human spirit’s tenacity in addition to being a spiritual journey. One holy step at a time, Sikkim has the opportunity to regain its position on the pilgrimage map.